Filleul (feminine: filleule) is a French noun referring to a godchild — a person for whom someone serves as godfather (parrain) or godmother (marraine) at a Christian baptism.
Etymology: The word derives from Old French fillol / filiol, which comes from Latin fīliolus ("young son"), a diminutive of fīlius ("son").
Pronunciation: /fi.jœl/
Definition: A person who has been held over the baptismal font by a godparent. The relationship is reciprocal: the filleul is the godchild, and the adult is the parrain (godfather) or marraine (godmother).
Related expression — Filleul de guerre (war godchild): During wartime, particularly World War I, a filleul de guerre referred to a soldier who was "adopted" by a woman or young girl (called a marraine de guerre, or "war godmother") who would send letters, care packages, and moral support to the front lines, without necessarily having a prior personal relationship with the soldier.
Usage: The term is used in both religious contexts (baptismal godparenthood) and, historically, in the secular context of wartime sponsorship.
